Apparatus for galvanizing wire



(No Model.) 2 Sheet s--Sheet 1. O. E. MATTESON. APPARATUS FORGALVANIZING WIRE.

No. 431.905. Patented July 8, 1890.

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No. 431,905. Patented July 8, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MATTESON, OF ALLENTOIVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS F( )R GALVANIZ ING WIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,905, dated July 8,1890.

Application filed November 21, 1888. Serial No. 291,51l. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, CHARLES E. MATTESON, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of' Allentown, in thecounty of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Apparatus for Galvanizing \Vire, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention has reference to galvanizing apparatus, but morespecifically to the wipers therefor; and it consists of certainimprovements which are fully set forth in the following specification,and shown in the accon1- panying drawings, which form part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide apparatus for galvanizing wirewith suitable wiping devices, whereby the excess of metal coating thewire after passing through the metal bath may be wiped off and thethickness of the coating be governed to a nicety. It is evident thatthis is important from two standpoints. For instance, the metal used forcoating the wire is zinc, which is very expensive, and consequently noexcess should be allowed to remain on the wire. Next, the finish of thewire is important, and for this reason the coating should be wipedsmooth, and the outer surface should be more or less uniform incharacter.

My invention is adapted to accomplish the desired result.

In carrying out my invention I provide immediately above the zinc bath awiperorwipers, which consist of two parts relatively movable andprovided with wipers, preferably of asbestus or other non-combustiblematerial, the said relatively-movable parts being forced togetherbysuitable pressure-creating devices.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wiperremoved from the galvanizing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of same on line a: m of Fig. 2.Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation of galvanizing apparatus with myinvention applied thereto, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.

Referring to Sheet 2 of the drawings, II is a metal bath, and consistsof sheet-iron c011- taining molten zinc or other suitable coating metal.

I and J are two sinkers or cross-bars for depressing the traveling wire0 in such a man ner as to depress it below the surface of the moltenmetal. The wire, after being heated in the usual way, is passed throughthe acid bath M, and then up and over the guide-rollers L K to the metalbath H. After leaving the sinker I the coated wires 0 pass vertically upthrough the slotted cross-bar G and the wipers and then over theguide-pulleys N to the reels.

Secured upon the slotted cross-bars G above the metal bath are thewipers, which are shown in detail, full size, 011 Sheet 1. These wipersconsist of a stationary frame A, which may have an elevating support orfoot F, by which it is secured to the crossbar G, and is also providedwith a recess a, for holding the wiping-pad, and the openings B aboveand below for the passage of the wire. WVorking in conjunction with thispart or frame A is a movable part or plunger O, guided in the part A,and also provided with a recessed part c on its end for holding theother wiping-pad. This movable part or plunger 0 is moved by a lever D,connected to it by a link D or otherwise, and which lever is weighted atcl, the said weight being adjustable longitudinally upon the lever by aset-screw d to vary the pressure of the movable part 0 upon the wire 0in wiper.

E E are two wiping-pads of soft material, preferably asbestus ornon-combustible substance; but they may be of felt. These pads arerespectively held in the stationary and movable parts A and O and cannotslip with the traveling wire on account of the recesses a and 0, intowhich the pads project, as shown in Fig. 3. In place of aweight a springmay be employed to act upon the leverD or plunger 0. (See Fig. 1, dottedlines.) The more minor details are unimportant, as it is evident thatthe shapes or designs of the parts maybe modified without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

In operation the wire, after being galvanized or coated, passes upbetween the pads E E, which are thick and envelop it 011 all sides, andwipe off the excess of metal, giving asmooth even finished surface tothe wire. By varying the pressure upon the pads more or less of thecoating metal maybe wiped off and the thickness of the coating bethereby regulated. The inovability of the plunger 0,

or the separation of the parts A and G and their pads, admits of thepassage of splices in the wire, which is a feature of great importance.The Wiper is automatic in its action and requires but a small amount ofattention. When the pads are worn out or clogged beyond use, they canreadily be replaced.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In awiper for apparatus for coating wire, the combination of theframe or stationary part A, having an opening therethrough for thepassage of the wire, movable part or plunger 0, a removable pad ofasbestus 01' other suitable wiping material, attached to the stationarypart and a similar removable pad attached to the movable part, and anadjustable weighted lever D, connected with the movable part or plunger0 for forcing said movable part and its pad toward said stationary partand its pad, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a wiper for apparatus for coating wire, the combination of theframe or stationary part A, having recess a therein and an openingtherethrough for the passage of the wire, movable part or plunger 0,having recess 0 therein, and removable pad of asbestus or other suitablewiping material, attached to the stationary part, projecting into recessa and held thereby, a similar removable pad attached to the movable part0, projecting into recess 0 and held thereby, and an adjustable weightedlever D, connected with said movable part or plunger 0 for forcing saidmovable part and its pad toward said stationary part and its pad, sothat the surplus coating of metal may be uniformly removed from allparts of the Wire, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES E. MATTESON.

Witnesses:

W. M. DOUGLASS, THOMAS P. ALDER.

